BULIISA FISHERMEN CRY FOUL OVER OPERATIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING GEARS

By Innocent Atuganyira

www.mknewslink.com

In Buliisa—

Fishermen in Buliisa district are crying foul as operations against illegal fishing gears intensify on Lake Albert.

According to the fishermen the operations which are mounted by the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU operations are depriving them of their livelihood.

They blame FPU for the failure to organize engagement meetings with the local leaders and fishermen.

This was revealed during the meeting of fishermen in Magali Cell Butiaba Town Council organized by Uganda Fisheries and Fish Conservation Association-UFFCA

Deo Ntakimanye a fisherman who doubles as the head of chairpersons of Butiaba town council said the enforcement officers who are continuing to confiscate fishing gear have failed to organize an engagement meeting with the local leaders on how best they can do with the proper and rightful fishing methods.

“The enforcement officers who are continuing to confiscate fishing gear have failed to organize an engagement meeting with the local leaders on how best they can do with the proper and rightful fishing methods,” he said.

Ntakimanye is optimistic that if fishing communities are engaged in such meetings, fishermen will be able to identify the rightful methods of fishing.

Seremosi Kamuturaki the UFFCA Executive Director condemned the act of the enforcement officers saying they also have the same issue on the failure of the officers in engaging fishermen.

“We also have the same problem of the enforcement officers failing to engage the fishermen when carrying out the operations,’’ he said.